The Sprout
!
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 175 March 2023
The Sprout
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Directors: Janet Bartlam, Judi Bolder, John Clements,
Michael Cockman, Ag MacKeith, Robin Palmer
Editor
Ag MacKeith
South View House, Old Botley, OX2 0JR Tel: 724452 Editor@TheSprout.org.uk
Advertising Manager
Michael Cockman
50, St Paul's Crescent OX2 9AG Tel: 07766 317691 Adverts@TheSprout.org.uk
Deliveries
Jan Shirley and Isabelle Hayes
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delivered to your door. Contact: Janet Bartlam: 01865 453111.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information printed in this
newsletter, mistakes may happen. The Editor and Team apologize unreservedly for
any errors that may occur and will do their best to correct them. This publication is not
a vehicle of the parish council, and parish councillors working with the Sprout do so in
a personal capacity. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the individual
contributors.
All concerned in the production and delivery of The Sprout are unpaid volunteers.
The Sprout is printed by The Holywell Press, and published by
North Hinksey Parish Publications Ltd, (a company limited by
guarantee) Registration No. 05609535.
The Sprout
Issue 175, March 2023!
Contents
3 Shout Out for Crofts Court
5 Public Art on Show
9 W.I at Blenheim Palace
11 New Botley Barber
13 Sylvia Staniford
15 Voter ID
17 Botley in Bloom 2023
18 Get Going Again
19 Kennington Memory Club
21 15th Scouts
23 Planning Applications
25 Annual Parish Meeting
27 Patients’ Group
29 Farewell to Dr Mary Akinola
31 Randoms
35 General Organizations
From the Editor
Welcome to the second Sprout of 2023. Things are starting to get busy.
The Patients’ Group is holding its AGM (p27), affordable housing is
coming closer at Crofts’ Court (p3), the public art commissioned to
beautify the new shopping centre will be on display on 18th March (p5),
and you are invited to take an early look at your front gardens and see
what you could come up with for Botley in Bloom (p17). On 16th March
it will be the Annual Parish Meeting in Seacourt Hall, where you can
have your say on all kinds of exciting projects – the Coronation festivi-
ties in early May, the new Skatepark, the new Pavilion, and any other
subject you would like to air (p25). This year there will be parish council
elections on 4th May – a chance to endorse or replace your councillors,
based on how you think they have performed over the last four years.
Debby Hallett spells out how to set up Voter ID if you don’t have a
passport or driving licence (p15). Without it, you can’t vote. The annual
litter pick (aka Oxclean) is scheduled for March and April (seen Ran-
doms, p31). If you are wondering about the front cover, see page 34.
Happy Reading!
Ag MacKeith
Shout Out for Crofts Court
Oxfordshire Community Land Trust (OCLT) continues to raise funds
and prepare for completion of the eight, new affordable one- and two-
bedroom homes for rent at Crofts Court between Eynsham Road and
Pinnocks Way. The scheme is making great progress on site, and is
due to be finished by June 2023. At the time of going to press, the
community share offer has already raised 75% of the £500k target.
This is a reminder to everyone who wants to help to invest from £250
if they can afford to, and if not to join us for £1. Help us get to the goal
by Feb 28th!
On Feb 15th some 80 people packed into the Garden Room at Trinity
College to hear about OCLT’s work and in particular the Crofts Court
project and associated Share Offer. OCLT shared the platform with
Aspire who do so much inspirational work to combat homelessness.
The West Oxford community had several representatives present
some of whom you may recognise in the picture below.
Deborah Glass
Woodin explained
that OCLT had
launched the com-
munity share offer to
reduce the cost of
finance and grow
our membership
base, and also to
help us deliver our
next site. Our photo
shows her making
an impassioned
CALL TO ACTION
for the audience to
invest, ask their friends to invest, and if that was not possible to join
us for £1 and spread our messages on social media. Readers of the
Sprout are invited to do the same.
In other OCLT news, directors Alison Mathias and Maureen Elliott
were delighted to meet with Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Mo-
ran at Cumnor Village Hall on Friday 3rd February. Layla expressed
her strong support for the Crofts Court project and OCLT’s mission to
provide more, permanently affordable homes for local people.
Don’t delay, invest or join today!
We’re now within touch-
ing distance of our goal,
but still need more in-
vestors – especially lo-
cal people and busi-
nesses who want to take
a stake in the future of
their community.
To invest with Ethex, scan the QR code
above or go to https://www.ethex.org.uk/invest/oclt.
And don’t forget that members are every bit
as important as investors. You can join OCLT
for just £1 via this QR code or at
https://www.oclt.org.uk/support-us/.
Want to live at Crofts Court?
If you’re already on Vale of White Horse
Council housing register and are interested in
living at Crofts Court, please keep an eye out on the Homechoice
website. We expect the flats to be advertised before the end of March.
Preference will be given to those on the list with a local connection
who are also ready, willing and able to join the tenant management
cooperative, which will help to manage the apartments. We’re adver-
tising early so that prospective tenants can receive training about
what’s involved in being part of a tenant co-op.
Find out more
For the latest news about OCLT and its work, see
https://www.oclt.org.uk or contact us on info@oclt.org.uk.
Fran Ryan
Public Artworks on Show
Saturday 18th March, West Way Square
Everyone is invited to a public unveiling of new artworks in West Way
Square from 11am on Saturday 18th March. There will also be an art
workshop for young people in the Seacourt Hall. The creation of these
artworks has been a truly collaborative process with residents of all
ages across Botley taking part.
They comprise three elements:
• Three mosaic panels by Clare Goodall (cgmosaics.co.uk) to be
mounted on the wall of the community building
• Two large carved standing stones by Alex Wenham
(www.alexwenham.co.uk) in the centre of the shopping area
• Two murals by Nor Greenhalgh (eleanorg.org) on walls next to
Loomsbury and between The Missing Bean and Tesco – to be
painted later in the Spring.
The artists have
immersed them-
selves in our local
history, culture,
natural environ-
ment and com-
munity for inspira-
tion. They visited
local schools and
groups including
the Pop-Up Café,
Senior Citizens
Lunch Club and
the Community Fridge, had a guided nature walk, and took part in
public events last March and
September. Clare Goodall’s mo-
saic panels were created with
input from local primary school
children and members of the
community in a number of
hands-on workshops last year.
The resulting artworks are de-
signed to connect to the people,
history and environment of
Botley and to brighten our community centre for many years to come.
The unveiling on Saturday 18th March is the first of two events
planned this year. This first one will feature the mosaic panels, which
were completed at the end of last year. We also hope to be able to
unveil the standing stones at the same time as they are currently tak-
ing shape in Alex’s Cumnor workshop with the hare carving emerging
from the rock as The Sprout goes to press! Photos show the stages
as it progresses from blocks to finished stone, with the template for
the hare on the right.
The second event will be in the
summer and feature Nor’s wall mu-
rals. She is continuing to engage
with local young people to create
these over the coming months.
There will be a workshop for young
people in Seacourt Hall alongside
the unveiling event. Drop in any
time between 10am and 12pm to
take part in the design of upcoming
murals, with Nor. We'll be experi-
menting with ancient and modern
ways of measuring out space using
unusual objects. If you like you can
bring along an object that has local
or personal significance for you!
We hope to see you there!
Lorna Berrett, Laura Jones, Da-
vid Kay on behalf of NHPC
Botley W.I. Takes the Air
It was a beautiful sun-
ny day when Botley
W.I. Walking Group
set out to catch the
bus to walk in Blen-
heim Park. The sun
was warm, the snow-
drops were out, the
daffodils were just
showing their leaves
above the ground and
the birds were sing-
ing. We talked as we
walked, enjoying the
fresh air and relishing what life has to offer. Before we left Blenheim
for our return journey to Oxford we stopped for a drink in the Café. On
arriving back in Oxford we parted company, refreshed by our enjoya-
ble outing and looking forward to our next meeting on the following
Tuesday. Jenny Holloway
Botley Barber gets a Facelift
The barber’s shop on Elms Parade has seen three occupants in the
last few years. Its latest oc-
cupant has radically changed
its services and appearance
from traditional to modern.
The shop was reopened in
December 2021 by Pairaw
Karimi, a Kurdish immigrant
who was then 21 years old.
Fittingly, the shop is called
21st Cut.
While at school in Oxford,
Pairaw (pronounced “Pay-
roh”), volunteered at a bar-
ber’s shop, doing simple
tasks such as sweeping up fallen hair. His dream of opening his own
hairdressing salon was born at this time. He said “I saw that the bar-
ber’s job is to make people look good and feel good, and I knew then
that was for me!”
After finishing school in 2019, Pairaw learned his craft in a barber's
shop in Littlemore. Then, with a loan from his family, he took over the
Elms Parade shop.
Pairaw’s team
(in picture: L to
R: Mard, Mo,
Pairaw and
Jhon (sic.) –who
supported Eng-
land in the FIFA
World Cup 2022
– covered the
walls with tim-
ber cladding which they distressed with a hand-held blow torch. They
also fitted the attention-grabbing 21st Cut sign, which gently cycles
through several colour changes. In addition, the furnishing, fittings
and barber’s chairs have been highlit with a golden sheen which
sparkles under the shop’s bright lights.
Pairaw says that many of the Turkish barbers’ shops in UK towns and
cities are run by Kurds. They describe their services as Turkish to
take advantage of the better-known Turkish brand. But in fact, he
says, nowadays most barbers of whatever ethnicity offer essentially
the same types of services, including regular hair and beard trim, hot
towel shave, face mask (to rejuvenate the skin), skin fade (close trim
of the sides of the head) and ear and nose wax (to remove trouble-
some hairs).
21st Cut offers a modern service in an attractive setting and has been
rewarded with plenty of customers. If you Google “21st Cut”, Pairaw’s
shop gets five stars.
Grant Nightingale
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sylvia Staniford
Our beloved mother Sylvia Staniford
passed away peacefully in her sleep
on 27th January.
She was the mother of seven chil-
dren, grandmother of 12 and great
grandmother of 19 more. Although
she lost her own mother when she
was only six, somehow she learned
to become the best mum her chil-
dren could have wished for. She
was kind, thoughtful and very
strong. She always coped with eve-
rything with dignity. Everyone that
met her remembers her with a smile on her face. She was a true lady
who always made time for everyone.
Sylvia moved to Botley in 1954, raised her family and worked in Mar-
tins and McColls newsagents until she retired. She loved shopping
and having coffees with family and friends in Botley.
While her family and friends grieve her loss, they are choosing to
remember her in ways that honour her spirit, always smiling and giv-
ing out Kit Kats to everyone she met. She rejoins her heavenly family.
RIP Sylvia. We will always love you.
Paul and Mariola Robles
Voter ID and the May 2023 elections
On Thursday 4 May 2023, everyone aged 18 or over who is eligible
will have the chance to vote in the Vale of White Horse District Coun-
cil election. And not just the District Council – the Parish Council as
well!
More info will be coming from the council and from Government, but I
wanted to be sure to give residents a heads up about the changes!
For more info on everything to do with voting, see the Vale website
about Voting: http://bit.ly/3QLoaNL
New for 2023: to vote at a polling station you must bring an approved
photo-bearing Voter ID! Passports, driving licenses, disabled blue
badges are some of the approved Voter IDs.
If you don’t have an accepted form of photo ID, you can APPLY NOW
for a free voter ID document known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
The online page with more info and an application form is here:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on
Tuesday 25 April.
Or, if you prefer, you can register for a Postal Vote, where you don’t
need any of these forms of Voter ID. To do that, go to the Vale web-
site for Voting by Post: http://bit.ly/3QMqnZg
Contact me if you have any questions or need help: Deb-
by.Hallett@Whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Botley In Bloom –
Front Garden Competition 2023
Like you, I’m looking forward to Spring and
some warmer weather. High time, then,
to kick off this year’s Botley in Bloom competition!
When we’re talking about the garden it’s never too
soon to start planning! Here are some relevant details:
The closing date for entries is Monday 5 June with
the judges coming round to see the results of your hard work
during the week beginning Monday 12 June. As usual we will be
judging front gardens only. (Tempting though it is to be nosy and see
your lovely back gardens too, we will desist.) Results will be an-
nounced on Monday 19 June.
There will be three categories this year, namely:
• Best Overall Front Garden
• Best Cultivated-Wildlife Front Garden
• Best use of Vegetables in a Front Garden
These are the categories that we’ve found garner the most en-
tries. The judging is done with a score sheet so you may like to know
what we’re looking for. Here are the judging criteria:
Best Front Garden: points will be awarded for
• Colour and planting
• Design sympathetic to the house and surroundings
• Environment & wildlife provision
• Creativity and invention
• Good overall design
Best Cultivated-Wildlife Front Garden, the judges will look for:
• Planting to attract wildlife
• Wildlife corridors
• Bird/insect/hedgehog box(es)
• Native plants/hedges
• Good overall design
Best Use of Vegetables in a Front Garden, we’ll be judging:
• Colour and planting
• Integration of vegetables with other plants
• Environment & wildlife provision
• Creativity and invention
• Good overall design
There continues to be an emphasis on the environment and the
greening of our spaces. Green gardens trump hard surfaces – we
can all choose hedges over fences, grow climbers up walls and plant
trees. It is good to see so many local front gardens doing just that
and we hope that many of you will enter your gardens into the compe-
tition.
Entry details to Botley in Bloom Front Garden Competition 2023
will be in future editions of The Sprout and on posters around the Par-
ish. There’s a Facebook page as well which we’ll get around to up-
dating before long. There will be First and Second prizes for each
category as usual too.
Please don’t feel you need to hold back if you’ve entered the competi-
tion before, it is always a pleasure to see your lovely front gardens.
Viv Smith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Get going again!
Troubled with constipation? Here’s a
fibre-filled recipe to help get you going
again.
For 4 portions of a very Quick Pea Soup:
Into 1.2 litres (2 pints) of boiling vegetable
or chicken stock, add one finely chopped
small onion, one peeled and crushed garlic
clove, 275 grammes (10 ounces) of frozen peas and two tablespoons
of chopped mint (or one tablespoon of dried mint). Bring back to the
boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the
heat and blitz until smooth with a stick blender or in a food processor.
To make a thicker version (much recommended), double the amount
of onion, frozen peas, garlic, and mint.
Serve with a dollop of yogurt, fromage frais, or quark per bowl.
You’ll almost certainly notice the difference the next day!
G.N.
!
At Kennington Memory Club we had to suspend our fund-raising
activities during Covid, but normal service is being resumed in 2023.
On Saturday March 11th we are holding a super Spring Sale in St
Nicolas Church, Abingdon, from 10 am until 12 noon. This is the
church which faces onto the Town Square, next to the archway
through to Abbey Close. Books, crafts, toys, produce and nearly-new
clothes will be on sale, and there will be Tombola. Entrance is free
and teas and coffees will be served in the church.
Maybe you can’t make it to the sale, but you still have the interests of
Kennington Memory Club at heart? Perhaps dementia has touched
your life in some way or another? You can still help the Club by
becoming a Friend of Kennington Memory Club. For more details of
this scheme, please contact our treasurer, Hugh, by calling 01865
434390 or by emailing treasurer@kenningtonmemoryclub.org.uk.
Another fund-raiser, Ladderthon 2023, is also coming up this Spring,
though not till May. Full details nearer the time. Or is fund-raising your
thing? If you would like to get involved Chris, our fund-raising
supremo, would love to hear from you on 01865 300345.
Kennington Memory Club helps those with a diagnosis of dementia by
providing company, activities, games and sing-songs at our day
centre. All this plus a delicious hot
lunch are on offer for the
members, giving their carers
valuable respite.
Contact Helen, our Organiser, on
07852 883496, if you would like to
register a person with dementia
for the Club. The availability of
places varies from month to
month, so it’s always worth getting
in touch www.kenningtonmemoryclub.org.uk
Day!Centre!News!
!
New Year’s Resolution?
Here are 15 reasons to volunteer with the 15th Oxford Scout
Group:
1. We believe in teaching young people life skills, bringing com-
munities together to contribute to society. Above all we aim to
build better futures.
2. This is something we’ve been doing for over 100 years as a
Group. We are currently based at Fogwell Road Pavilion.
3. There are roles to suit everyone: leadership, support, commit-
tee.
4. You don’t have to be Bear Grylls, living a life of hiking and
camping, to help us out. All we ask is a bit of your free time!
5. We work closely with kids doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award,
as we’re perfectly placed to help with the community and ex-
pedition parts.
6. When we camp, we do it in style –
green field style. This means we
set up everything, from cooking to
toilets to activities, and leave
nothing behind but happy memo-
ries.
7. And we’ve had members attend
international camps and jambo-
rees across Europe.
8. All this is delivered through work
on over 250 badges.
9. Scouts are physically active, val-
ue the outdoors, are not afraid to
try new things and gain skills to
succeed regardless of academic
ability. As a result, the children
are happier, more resilient and
more confident. Scouts make strong friendships and respect
differences in people. They learn to be responsible leaders
and team players, and in time become good citizens.
10. Maybe that’s why we have Scout Ambassadors like Bear
Grylls and Kate Middleton, to name but two.
11. Oh, and Tim Peake. In fact, two thirds of the people who have
been into space have been associated with Scouts. That in-
cludes 10 of the 12 men to walk on the moon.
12. But maybe I’ve gone a bit far from Botley. Here at the 15th the
current leadership team have over 70 years’ Scouting experi-
ence between them. In fact, there have been just nine Scout
Leaders in our 108 year history!
13. Ultimately, we aim to deliver fun and games, learning and so-
cial interaction in the context of outdoor experiences and
teaching a wide range of skills.
14. Every adult looking to be an appointed member of the group
with a regular supporting role will receive a safeguarding
check, and any training they need (all for free!). This can be
arranged flexibly to suit your available free time and other
commitments – it’s there to support you and not to assess you!
15. We meet on Fridays: both Cubs and Scouts. Contact details
can be found at the back of The Sprout.
Tom Freeman
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P23/V0089/HH
54 Westminster Way. 2-storey side
extension + external changes.
17 January
TDD: 14 Mar
P23/V0133/HH
71 Arthray Rd. Construct front porch,
hip to gable conversion & rear exten-
sion.
18 January
TDD: 15 Mar
P23/V0169/FUL
41 Yarnells Hill. Single storey detached
dwelling + parking & access.
23 January
TDD: 20 Mar
P23/V0177/S73
Badger sett
variation on app
P21/V2746/HH
The Forresters, 54 Hurst Rise Rd.
Extensions & alterations to existing
dwelling & new garage annexe building.
23 January
Target Decision
Date:
20 March
P23/V0208/HH
25 Elms Rd. Remove conservatory,
porch & garage. New single storey rear
extension.
24 January
TDD: 21 Mar
P23/V0204/HH
4 Chelsie House, 104 West Way. De-
molish existing conservatory, & con-
struction of single storey rear extension.
25 January
TDD: 22 Mar
P23/V0264/LDP
44 Arthray Rd. Construct garden build-
ing to provide home gym & home of-
fice/hobby room.
1 February
TDD: 29 Mar
Annual Parish Meeting:
Thursday 16th March, 7:30pm
This year’s Annual Parish Meeting is being held on
Thursday 16th March from 7:30pm at Seacourt Hall
and you can also attend online via Zoom. The Zoom
link will be published in the Agenda by end of the day
on Monday 13th March.
Annual Parish Meetings are a chance for parishioners
to discuss matters of local importance. Although ar-
ranged and chaired by the Parish Council, it is not a
Parish Council meeting and any parishioner can pro-
pose a topic for the agenda. A number of initiatives
have begun or moved forward following an Annual
Parish Meeting including the current Skatepark plans
and the push for 20 mph limit.
Topics suggested so far include updates on projects
including the Pavilion, Skatepark and Public Art, an
update on West Way Phase 2, and parish celebrations
for the Coronation. These are just suggestions and
may not all be included, depending on what else is
submitted.
If you would like to raise a topic, request an update or
suggest a speaker, please send your requests by
Monday 13th March to the Council Chair: caro-
line.potter@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
We hope to see you there!
Councillors of North Hinksey Parish Council
Message from the PPG Chairman
The Partners (doctors) attended the PPG meeting on January 17th to
explain how they propose to operate as a practice following Doctor
Akinola's retirement on 31 January 2023 (see page 29).
Whilst Kennington Surgery and Botley Surgery will remain open five
days each week, staffed by various clinicians, there will only be one
doctor in attendance at Kennington on the following days:
Tuesday 8.30am–4.0pm,
Wednesday 8.30am–1.00pm,
Friday 8.30am–4.0pm.
The locum doctor (Doctor Martinez), along with Medloop and Livi Doc-
tors are still available to patients.
The Partners are advertising for new doctors. We know from other
sources that there are currently 27 vacancies for doctors at other
practices around Oxfordshire. It is difficult to attract doctors to Oxford-
shire and surrounding counties due to the high cost of living and
house prices. It is difficult to say how long the reduced doctor hours
will remain in place. It will depend on how long it takes to appoint new
doctors.
It is important to appreciate that
the situation at the practice is not
unique to Botley and Kenning-
ton. The number of qualified GPs
working for the NHS fell in Janu-
ary for the tenth month in a row.
Staff shortages are chronic.
There are other alternatives to
your GP. The practice has other
specialist clinicians to whom pa-
tients can speak instead of a GP,
which would allow GPs to concen-
trate upon emergency cases. Pa-
tients can choose to speak to a
specialist clinician instead of to a
doctor. The roles of these special-
ists are posted on the practice
website.
(https://www.botleymedicalcentre
.co.uk/team-1) and are on each of the screens in both surgeries.
It is important that we help the practice, where we can, to make what
we have work. The practice have a very good team of specialist clini-
cians; please do ask for them first if you think it appropriate, and en-
courage family and friends to do the same. Please feel free to feed
back to Chris Sugden (csugden@ocrpl.org), myself, or directly to the
practice to tell us about your experience.
John Ashton PPG Chairman
Farewell to a much loved GP
Over 50 people gathered at the Kennington
Health Centre on Friday February 3rd for an
afternoon tea party to say thank you and
farewell to Dr Mary Akinola on her retirement
from the GP Practice.
Dr Mary had joined the Kennington Health
Centre on March 4 2002. John Ashton, the
chairman of the Botley and Kennington Pa-
tients Participation Group recalled that Dr
Mary had attended the earliest meetings of
the PPG from 2013 and was a regular at-
tender. When the Botley Health Centre took
on the Kennington Surgery in 2017 Dr Mary remained.
John Ashton thanked Dr Mary for everything she had done and
wished her a pleasant and happy retirement.
Dr Mary was presented with two gift vouchers, one for a department
store and one for a bookshop. Numerous cards and other gifts were
brought to the tea party for her.
In response Dr Mary said she was overwhelmed. She felt she was not
just a GP to those present but also a friend and that traffic was two-
way. She thanked those present for sticking with the practice and said
that she prayed for something better to come. It had been a privilege
to be part of their lives, from great grandmothers to little children, and
both were present at the occasion. She said it had been a joy to share
their lives and thanked them for putting up with her for 21 years.
A further presentation was made to Sylvia Buckingham, a former chair
of the PPG from 2016, who was stepping down from her membership
of the group.
Chris Sugden
Randoms
Haydn’s Creation
Cumnor Choral Society will be performing Haydn’s Creation on Sat-
urday 25th March at 7.30 in St Peter & St Paul’s Church. They will
be joined by choirs from Great Milton & Wheatley, so this will indeed
be a glorious creation! Tickets cost £12 and £10 for concessions (buffet
afterwards included) from cockman.caroline@gmail.com or 07961
900670.
Passion play
7:30pm, Sunday 26th March, St Michael’s Church, Cumnor. The life,
death and resurrection of Jesus are recreated in this moving, memo-
rable and ultimately joyful retelling of the Easter story by LAMPS Col-
lective. Told from the perspectives of Peter, Mary Magdalene and a
Roman centurion named Marcus, this powerful contemporary drama
leads us up to and through the events of Holy Week, to the cross and
beyond. Buy tickets online at https://cumnor.org/the-passion/, in per-
son from Cumnor Post Office, or ring the Vicarage on 01865 863702.
Tickets cost just £10 and the performance lasts 75 minutes followed
by light refreshments.
“The story of The Passion as I’d never seen it before. Impacting and memorable”
PPG’s AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the Botley and Kennington Patients
Participation Group will be held on Tuesday 21 March at 6.30 at
Kennington Health Centre, in person and online. Any patient wishing
to an item to be considered at the meeting is asked to notify the sec-
retary, Chris Sugden on csugden@ocrpl.org by March 7th
!
Earthquake Fundraiser
A trio of bands are putting on a fundraiser for Oxfam's Turkey and
Syria earthquake appeal. Brickwork Lizards, Owl Light Trio and Lark-
spur will perform their unique takes on folk music and sounds from all
over the world. Three amazing acts for £10 (advance on Wegottick-
ets) or £14 on the door. Every penny goes to Oxfam's work with local
organisations supporting communities to recover from the devastation
in Turkey and Syria. Wed 8 March at Tap Social, Botley. Doors
open 7.30, music starts 8pm.
Trustees Wanted
Campaign to Protect Rural England – Oxfordshire
Do you care about your local countryside?
Want to make a difference?
Due to retirement of current trustees, we are looking for an Honorary
Secretary and a Board Member to join our team.
This is an excellent opportunity to play an influential role in a respect-
ed and long-standing environmental charity, applying your experience
to make a real difference and to be part of a friendly group that is
passionate about the Oxfordshire countryside.
Application deadline is 30 March 2023 in the first instance, but we are
happy to receive expressions of interest on an ongoing basis.
For further info, please contact our Branch Director, Helen Marshall.
E: director@cpreoxon.org.uk T: 01491 612079
See our website for more information: www.cpreoxon.org.uk
Parish Council E-newsletter
The 2023 Parish Council newsletter should
be posted through your doors by now or will
be with you within a week. You can also now
get an email f the newsletter. You can sign up
for this year’s newsletter and future news up-
dates by either scanning the QR code here or
go to northhinksey-pc.gov.uk/newsletters.
March ’23 in Botley Library
The Library’s a welcoming space this March.
There are a couple of special events: World Book Day on Thursday
2nd, and a Children’s Author Event with Jackie Holderness, 11-
12pm on Saturday 4th.
Also on Saturday 4th, Judy
Roberts, our County Councillor,
is holding a surgery from 10-
12pm.
There’s also something for eve-
ryone throughout the week:
Mondays, 6th, 13th, 20th and
27th, 11-12am: Pop in for a cup-
pa.
Thursdays, 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd
and 30th, 2pm: Craft Club.
Fridays, 3rd, 10th, 17th, 23rd, 30th, 10 am: Rhymetime for under 5s.
And also on Fridays, 4-6pm: Games evening for all comers, board
games provided.
Cleaning up Botley
Many thanks to Bob Cowley, for a bit of hands-on research. He has
kindly sent us this: “Just got round to following up your info about the
Oxford Spring Clean-up in the January Sprout.
“As we in Botley are not in Oxford City, OxClean does not apply to us.
Instead, we have to operate through the Vale's equivalent scheme, 17
March–2 April.” The correct webpage for anybody here in the Vale
who wishes to participate is: https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/vale-of-
white-horse-district-council/environment-and-neighbourhood-
issues/neighbour hood-services/littering-fly-tipping-and-dumping-
waste/community-litter-picking-how-we-can-help/
Meanwhile, and possibly without reference to the above website, an informal
clearance will be carried out in Seacourt Nature Reserve between 2 and 4pm
on 11th March.
Favourite Gadget: The Egg Topper
The stainless steel egg topper scores the shell
round the end of a boiled egg so that it can be
neatly removed (see picture). Place the domed
end of the device on top of the egg, pull up the
ball, which is sprung-loaded, and let it spring
back. The shock makes a projecting lip on the in-
side of the leading edge of the dome cut through the eggshell.
G.N.
(Indispensable, Grant! And here’s another
gadget, just found in the back of the kitchen
drawer. What can it be for? Ideas and sug-
gestions welcome. Ed)
Beautiful Bike
That handsome motor bike on the front cover is a 20-year old Indian,
a classic if ever there was one. It was spotted on a Friday evening
outside Tesco’s, all gleaming chrome and shining metalwork. A clear
sign of Spring on the way, burnished and ready for adventure as the
warmer weather beckons. And a lot more exciting than the primroses I
had lined up for the cover! (Ed)
1st Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Jean
Metson, firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com
2nd Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
4th Oxford Scout Group
Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts
mail@thefourth.org.uk Website:
http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
15th Oxford Scout Group
Boys and girls welcome
Fridays, Cubs 6.30-8, Scouts 8-9.30, Pavilion, Fogwell Rd.
Amy Cusden (Cubs) 07887 654386, Tom Freeman (Scouts)
07837 623768 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk
Baby & Toddler Group
Tues/Thurs 9.15–11, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
BikeSafe. B4044 community
path campaign
Wants to connect Botley to Eynsham. Meets every 6-8
weeks. Contact via website B4044path.org
Books on Wheels R.V.S.
Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Botley Boys & Girls F.C.
Football teams from ages 8-16
Terri Matthews: clubsecretarybbgfc@gmail.com!
Botley Community Larder
Thursdays, 3.30 to 5.30 at St P&P Church Hall, West
Way, Facebook or email botleylarder@gmail.com
Botley and Kennington
Patients Participation Group
Second Tuesday in the Month, early evening. Con-
tact csugden@ocrpl.org
Botley Health Walks
2nd & 4th Sats 9.50 Louie Memorial Field car park,
and Tues 11 am Library botleyhealthroutes@gmail.com
Botley Library
07922 849680. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Botley Memory Lane Café
Thursdays 10-12 Seacourt Hall Lounge, Diccon James
07740 611971
Botley Seniors Lunch Club
Alternate Thursdays. Seacourt Hall. Jackie Warner
Ox.721386
Botley Youth Club
botleyyouthclub@gmail.com
Cumnor Choral Society
Thursdays, 19.30-21.30 St Andrew’s Ch. Steve Morris,
chair. www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Cumnor Chess Club
Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett
01993 684494 www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Cumnor & District
Historical Society
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old
School. 01865 724808
Cumnor Gardening Club
http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/ tel 01865 721026
Harmony InSpires, Ladies'
Acappella Singing Group
Wed 7.30 at Appleton Village Hall. C. Casson 01235
831352 or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Hill End Volunteer Team
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org,
call 863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
!
Lawn Tennis Club
Family club Email: Tennis@OxfordSportsLTC.org
07824 881680 www.oxfordsportsltc.org
West Oxford Singing Circle
Weds 2-3pm, WOCC, Emily 07969 522368 or see
www.emilyschoirs.co.uk
Morris Dancing – Cry Havoc
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
North Hinksey Preschool
and Childcare clubs
Mon–Fri 7.45am–6.00 pm. Tel 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
N Hinksey Art Group
Weds 10–12.00 W.I. Hall Christina 07931 707997
N Hinksey Bellringers
Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
N Hinksey Conservation
Volunte ers
Meets at weekends Contact Voirrey Carr
07798743121 voirreyc@aol.com
N Hinksey, Friends of
Annual Cricket Match/ Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
N Hinksey Parish Council
clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
Oxford Flood Alliance
R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
Oxford Flower Arranging
Club
4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: Ox 865259
Oxford Harmony
Wednesdays 7.30 – 9.30 pm at Seacourt Hall
Contact pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk
Oxford Otters
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays,
twice monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Oxford Rugby Club
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Raleigh Park, Friends of
Email: raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk
Seacourt Hall Management
Committee
Contact Lottie White, 07452 960100, or see
https://www.seacourthall.org.uk
Shotokan Karate Club
6+ WOCC twice weekly
Martyn King 07836 646450
Stagecoach Botley
Botley School, Saturdays 9:00am–3pm Performing
Arts for 4-16 yr-olds 01865 590510 or 01235 390810
West Oxford Bowls Club
Dave Ellerker 07931 603801
wobc.membership@gmail.com!
West Oxford Taekwon Do
Club
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall
01865 570291 www.wotkd.co.uk
West Oxford U3A
(Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
Women’s Institute (Botley)
Alison Jenner 07598 251161
alisonjenner@yahoo.com
Weight Watchers
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Banso tel: 07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
Botley Baptist Church,
I Church Way
Contact: Building Manager 07742
662668 botleybaptist@gmail.com
The Rosary Room
Yarnells Hill, Elms Rise
Contact: Maria Brown,
Te l : 0 1 8 6 5 2 4 7 9 8 6 .
SS Peter & Paul Church
Hall, West Way, Botley
Contact: 01865 242057 or
osneybenefice@outlook.com.
Women's Institute Hall,
North Hinksey Lane
Contact: Val Warner
Te l . 0 1 8 6 5 245273
Seacourt Hall,
3 Church Way
Contact: Lottie White on 07452 960100,
or email admin@seacourthall.org.uk!
Pavilion, Arnold’s Way,
Elms Rise, Botley
Contact: Darren Blase 241254
louiememorialpavilion@gmail.com
Oxford Rugby Club,
North Hinksey Village
Contact:. Mary Bagnall
mary.bagnall1@btinternet.com.
North Hinksey & Botley Churches
Times of Services (once resumed) and Contacts
St. Lawrence, Church of England, North Hinksey Lane
1st, 2nd, 4
th
, 5
th
Sunday 11.30am Holy Communion
3rd Sunday 11.30am Matins
St. Peter and St. Paul, Church of England, West Way
Sundays 9.30am Holy Communion!
Wednesdays 10.30am Holy Communion in Chapel of Holy Spirit
1st Saturday each month, 4–5.30pm Messy Church for children and carers!
Rev Clare Sykes, Tel. 01865 242345 or revclare@btinternet.com
See table above for Church Hall enquiries.
Our Lady of the Rosary, Roman Catholic, Yarnells Hill
Saturday 6.30pm Mass
Sunday 9.15am Mass
Fr Daniel Lloyd 07584 323915 dlloyd@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.
Botley Baptist Church, 1 Church Way
Sunday Service 11 am
Wednesday Zoom Bible Study 7.30pm
Choir practice Thursday 2pm
Diane Melchert 07742 662668 www.botleybaptistchurch.org
Calvary Chapel
Sunday services on 1st Floor, 1 Church Way at 9.30am with
crèche, children’s Sunday school and youth group
Pastor Steve Vickery 01865 586332
contact@ccox.church website: www.ccoxford.church
What’s On
March
Sat 4th 10-12pm, Botley Library, Judy Roberts’ County
Councillor Surgery
Sat 4th 11-12pm, Library, Children’s Author Jackie
Holderness
Wed 8th 7.30pm, Tap Social, Earthquake Fundraiser with
Brickwork Lizards, Owl Light Trio and Larkspur
Sat 11th 10-12pm, St Nicholas Church, Abingdon, KMC
Super Spring Sale
Mon 13th 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk:
Bill Hamilton, journalist, ‘Man on the Spot’
Thur 16th 7.30pm, Seacourt Hall, Annual Parish Meeting
Sat 18th 10am to 12pm: Public Art event – unveiling outside
Library at 11am, young people’s drop-in workshop
in Seacourt Hall between 10 and 12.
Tues 21st 6.30pm at Kennington Health Centre and online,
AGM of the Botley and Kennington Patients Group
Thur 23rd 7.30pm, Seacourt Hall, Parish Council Meeting
Sat 25th 7.30pm, St Peter and Paul Church, performance of
Haydn’s Creation by Cumnor Choral
Sun 26th 7.30pm, St Michael’s Church, Cumnor, Passion
Play by LAMPS Collective
Mon 27th 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk:
Martin Buckland, ‘The Invisible Brick’
Weekends 3-5 and 7-10, Big Spring Clean (oxclean.org.uk) or
17th March to 2nd April, if you go with the Vale.
Every Tuesday, 1pm-2.30pm, Seacourt Hall, Age UK Warm Space for
everyone, especially older adults, with free tea and coffee.